The Orion spacecraft is a key component of NASA’s deep space exploration plans, designed to carry astronauts farther into space than ever before, including potential missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Developed under NASA’s Artemis program, Orion is built to sustain human life in the harsh environment of deep space and return them safely to Earth. The spacecraft consists of two main parts: the Crew Module (CM), built by Lockheed Martin, which houses the astronauts and all life-supporting systems, and the European Service Module (ESM), provided by the European Space Agency (ESA), which supplies propulsion, power, thermal control, and water and oxygen. Orion’s design incorporates advanced technology, safety features, and the capacity to support a crew for up to 21 days autonomously. Its first uncrewed test flight, Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1), took place in December 2014, successfully demonstrating its key systems and re-entry capabilities. Future missions involving Orion are crucial steps in expanding human presence beyond low Earth orbit and exploring new frontiers in space.
NASA’s Artemis II mission’s Orion spacecraft underwent successful electromagnetic testing to confirm its readiness for moon missions. On Friday, April 26, engineers completed a series…
NASA is preparing the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission by conducting rigorous tests at Kennedy Space Center’s upgraded altitude chamber. Before the Orion…
In the image above, NASA astronaut and Artemis II pilot Victor Glover is assisted by U.S. Navy personnel as he exits a mockup of the…
On October 19, the Orion crew and service modules for the Artemis II mission were joined together inside the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building…
The Orion spacecraft for NASA’s Artemis II mission successfully underwent acoustic testing at Kennedy Space Center. This verifies its readiness for the upcoming 10-day lunar…
Artemis II NASA astronauts visited the Orion spacecraft at Kennedy Space Center, in preparation for a 10-day journey around the Moon. The mission aims to…
NASA and the Department of Defense completed the first recovery test for the Artemis II mission, simulating astronaut extraction and spacecraft recovery. The test is…
On June 25, 2023, the heat shield was successfully installed on the Artemis II Orion spacecraft at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This crucial…
The Artemis II mission’s laser communication system, the Orion Artemis II Optical Communications System (O2O), has arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. O2O, which enhances…
Technicians at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center tested Orion’s solar array wing for the Artemis II mission, ensuring proper function for the spacecraft’s propulsion, thermal control,…
Sunday at 9:40 a.m. PST, NASA’s Orion spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, bringing a record-breaking mission to a close. Artemis I kicked off…
At 9:40 a.m. PST, 12:40 p.m. EST, NASA’s Orion spacecraft successfully completed a parachute-assisted splashdown in the Pacific Ocean as the final major milestone of…
NASA’s Orion spacecraft will splash down in the Pacific Ocean on Sunday at 9:39 a.m. PST (12:39 p.m. EST), bringing an end to a several-week-long…
When Artemis I launched on Wednesday, November 16, NASA’s new mega Moon rocket carried the Orion spacecraft – uncrewed, for now – into orbit for…
On Earth, many cars on the road are powered by engines that convert fuel into energy to produce motion. Although rocket science is a little…
As the end of NASA’s Artemis I mission draws near, the Orion spacecraft is on its last full day in space. Splashdown is targeted for…
On Flight Day 24 of the Artemis I mission, NASA teams in Mission Control Houston conducted spacecraft system checks ahead of Orion’s planned splashdown on…
As NASA’s Artemis I mission to the Moon draws to a close, the Orion spacecraft is on its way back to Earth, with the planned…